EDITORIAL

The way in which the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Costa Rica manages its projects is already embarrassing. Not only did they establish an impossible series of obstacles when the Comptroller General of the Republic requested a review of the contracting record for the new bridge over the River Virilla, but they have now directly formalized their intention of not revealing any details, through the signing of a confidentiality agreement with the National Road Council (Conavi).

The confidentiality agreement obliges Conavi not to disclose information on two projects contracted with the UNOPS: the design and construction of the bridge over the Virilla River on route 32 and the overpass at the Garantías Sociales roundabout.

See: "Local or International, Bureaucracy Does Not Pay for its Mistakes"

Nacion.com explains that "... In the note, Conavi committed to the UNOPS to maintain strict confidentiality on the offers made by interested companies, reports evaluating the proposals, minutes of the meetings, registration of clarifications and protests submitted by the construction companies concerned."

"... Suppliers, trade unions, deputies, the media and the public will not have access to the recruitment files. "

"... The main argument for not giving the records is that they enjoy privileges and immunities given by articles 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, of which the country is a signatory, and therefore will not provide the information requested." 

Source: Nacion.com

More on this topic

Costa Rica: $90 Million for Road Works

December 2019

CABEI approved the extension of financing to CONAVI for an amount of up to $90 million, to finance the completion of the northern section of the peripheral ring in the Uruca - Calle Blancos section and the rehabilitation of the bridge over the Virilla River, National Route 32.

The construction will be executed by the National Roads Council (CONAVI).

The Cost of Hiding Information About Public Works

December 2017

In Costa Rica, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic decided to cancel the contracts for two UNOPS road construction projects, after it decided to keep secret the files with the details of these contracts.

The decision by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to hide the details of the contracts for the two road construction projects assigned to it by the National Road Council (Conavo) cost state coffers dearly. 

Challenges to the Work of UNOPS

September 2017

"After two years the results are not the expected and, in fact, delays in the projects correspond to the typical obstructions and slow management that we are used to with public entities."

EDITORIAL

The actions of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) never cease to amaze. Its representatives in the country not only set out an impossible series of obstacles when the Comptroller General of the Republic requested to review the file on the contract for the new bridge over the Virilla River, on route 32, but now, a week after the request was made, UNOPS is ignoring the Comptroller's order. The entity had established a period of 24 hours for the delivery of the information. 

Costa Rica: Legal Guarantee for Road Project

March 2017

The agreement between the Conavi and the UNOPS to execute the works related to the radial road to Lindora, has received approval from the Comptroller General of the Republic.

From a statement issued by the Comptroller General of the Republic: